Philips Dimmer Switch vs. Philips Hue Tap: Which Should You Buy?

Philips Hue is the most recognizable smart light brand on the market, and it´s not just one product.

It is the entire lighting ecosystem.

To put it simply, it is smart lighting that gives you wireless control and lets you take your lightning effort to a whole new level.

How does it work?

You have a Hue smart and energy-efficient light bulbs, you have the bridge – a heart of the Philips Hue system which allows you to talk and control the Hue lights over Wi-Fi and the Philips app that is one of the simplest ways to communicate with your smart lights.

But the absolute simplest options are the wireless Dimmer Switch and Hue Tap.

Let’s talk about these two devices which are here for controlling the lighting in your home without the need for saying voice commands or playing with your phone.

 

Amazon: Philps Hue Dimmer Switch

Amazon: Philips Hue Tap

Philips Hue Dimmer Switch

 

If you need simplicity then the Dimmer Switch is a smart device for you. It is designed to be a simple way to control your lights without the need to use your phone, or without getting up from your bed.

A solution is similar to a normal light switch with an integrated dimmer circuit. You can mount it almost anywhere in your house. Use the adhesive strips or screws and mount the Dimmer Switch on any wall.

Setting up the Philips Hue Dimmer Switch is also insanely easy. Pull out the plastic strip to power it up and then use the Philips Hue app to add the switch.

The next step is to select a room you want it linked to. That´s all.

One switch allows you to pair up to 10 smart bulbs and there is an option to use multiple Dimmer Switches if you need more than 10 bulbs to use simultaneously. It is also good to know when the Hue Dimmer switch is connected to the Philips Hue hub, it can be used to control any Alexa smart home device of a HomeKit compatible appliance.

Overall, if you like simple, easy-to-use smart devices for lighting systems then Hue Dimmer is an excellent option and best of all, you can get it for cheap.

 

Philips Hue Tap

 

If you have already bought Hue LEDs and you have been waiting for something that is capable of controlling them, then picking a Tap up for your home is pretty much a must.

The Hue Tap makes the system more accessible. It is a circular remote control for your smart bulbs that can be connected to a room or multiple rooms of lights, all that without a need to be hardwired into the wall like a traditional light switch.

Same as the Dimmer switch, the Tap comes with a detachable plate you can adhere to the wall.

The Hue Tap has four fully customizable buttons, each one can be set to a different scene. To put it simple, just press one of these buttons and you are able to turn the light in the room into the color you set in the Philips Hue app. The possibilities here are endless.

What makes the Hue Tap interesting is the ability to function without batteries. In fact, it is using the kinetic energy generated when you press the buttons. Sounds cool, what do you think? According to the official Philips statement, the Tap will last for up to 50,000 clicks, which is enough for a few years.

Should you buy it? The Tap can be a smart buy, not the cheapest, but a very useful and quick way to switch between preset lighting scenes.

 

Philips Dimmer Switch vs. Philips Hue Tap: Comparison

 

PHILIPS DIMMER SWITCH – Wall Mountable: Yes | Dimmer Function: Yes | Buttons: 4 | Portable: Yes | Battery powered: Yes | Wireless: Yes | Requires Hue Bridge: Yes | Preset Scenes: Yes | Dimensions: 0.6 x 2.8 x 4.5 inches

PHILIPS HUE TAP – Wall Mountable: Yes | Dimmer Function: No | Buttons: 4 | Portable: Yes | Battery powered: No | Wireless: Yes | Requires Hue Bridge: Yes | Preset Scenes: Yes | Dimensions: 3 x 3 x 0.9 inches”

 

Which should you buy?

Both of these smart accessories solve one of the biggest problems in smart lighting. The time consumption of navigating through the app to change something on your smart lights. It is much faster just stand up and hit the switch.

Actually, with the Dimmer Switch, there is no standing up. You can change turn on/off the lights or change the color scene from anywhere in your home with the included remote. This is also the reason why the Hue Dimmer wins in the direct comparison with Hue Tap.

The portability – and the price. It is almost half the price of Hue Tap. On the other hand, the Hue Tap doesn’t require batteries to function.

 

 

RECOMMENDED IN SMART HOME

 

 

Main photo by Philips

 

Disclosure: This post is brought to you by Nechstar team. We aim to highlight products and services you might find interesting, and if you buy them, we get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our commerce partners, including Amazon.